BK Style Foundation, anti-trafficking organization Beauty for Freedom, Council for Fashion and Social Change and visual artists/designers Fabiola Jean-Louis, Katya Akuma, Chantel Valentene, Monica Watkins, Jerry Chu and Butch Diva (Tiffany Rhodes)have partnered with City-As School in creating a Denim Day NYC Video and Photographic Campaign raising awareness for the survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

Launching April 2017 and Co-Directed by Monica Watkins and Candice Fortin in collaboration with Director of Photography Todd Sines and fashion photographer Andries Boekelman, the campaign’s mission is to engage New Yorkers in the fight to end sexual and domestic violence and to raise funds and awareness for Denim Day NYC’s survivor advocacy programming. The second installment of the video and photo series created by CTM Sisters Productions in partnership with Beauty for Freedom, BK Style Foundation and Council for Fashion and Social Change, features the collaborative designs of Fabiola Jean-Louis, Katya Akuma, Chantel Valentene, Monica Watkins, Jerry Chu and Butch Diva along with design students Alex Lora, Anna Schwab and Hazel Cetemen of City-As School. Musical scoring is an original musical composition by composer Todd Sines featuring voices of several brave survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence and advocates tackling issues of victimization. Behind the Scenes footage was shot and edited by artist Dasha Dare. Musical scoring for the BTS video is by City-As High School student Ben Joseph featuring violinist Adrianna Mateo and violist Bridget Fitzgerald. Supermodels featured in the campaign include activists/models Mari Malek founder ofstand4education , Kadi Correia and Vika Levina. Hair and Make-Up were created by artist Chainelle Molina.

We would like to take an opportunity and say thank you to all the volunteers that participated in Denim Day NYC! A special thank you to the sponsorTom’s Sons International Pleating that provided textile pleating for the Denim Day NYC Capsule collection.

“BK Style Foundation is committed to supporting causes that affect our community, and we recognized Denim Day NYC’s mission and think it’s very important that we support a cause that touches everyone. Sexual assault/Violence is an epidemic in communities globally and we want to do our part to raise awareness.”- Rick Davy | Founder/Executive Director BK Style Foundation

“We are truly excited to launch the Denim Day NYC Campaign in honor of all of the survivors of sexual and domestic violence globally. Their voices and bravery inspire us to do our part in the fight for all survivors!”- Monica Watkins | Founder Beauty for Freedom

“Council for Fashion and Social Change is committed to causes that support survivors of sexual and domestic violence. We are very inspired to mentor and support the students of City-As School in co-creating this collection using recycled denim.” - Katya Akuma | Founder of Council for Fashion and Social Change

Backstage of the Denim Day NYC Campaign by Dasha Dare

About Denim Day NYC

Denim Day NYC is a coalition of community agencies, elected officials, students, and volunteers united to promote awareness around the issue of sexual assault. Denim Day grew out of a case in which a rape conviction was overturned because the judge reasoned the victim’s tight jeans meant that she helped her assailant to remove them, implying consent. People were outraged all over the world and wearing jeans became an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes and myths surrounding sexual assault. Denim Day started in Los Angeles and has grown into an international movement. Denim Day NYC started in 2010 with a collaborative of three agencies and has grown to more than 40 agencies uniting to promote awareness around the issue of sexual assault. www.denimday.nyc